385: gods

As soon as Chen De emerged from the Mortal Realm, he immediately ran into an acquaintance.

He expertly used the system map to scan the area, then quietly walked away.

Just then, the other person's voice stopped Chen De.

"Long time no see."

In an instant, Chen De immediately understood that the other party had seen through his identity, though he didn't know how.

He turned his head in bewilderment, and upon seeing the other person's appearance, he instantly became overjoyed.

"It's you, Benefactor!"

The person who came was none other than the one who had helped Chen De when he first entered the Earth Immortal Realm.

"What benefactor? It was just a small favor I did casually back then."

"Look at you now, with such powerful cultivation, and even your demeanor exudes wealth and status."

The other party chuckled.

"Not at all!" Chen De's expression instantly became serious, "If it weren't for Benefactor's help back then, how could I, Zhang Yi, be where I am today?"

"My name, Zhang Yi, contains the character for 'righteousness,' so naturally, righteousness comes first in all my affairs."

"For all these years, I've been trying to find Benefactor's whereabouts to repay the kindness of your help."

"Alas, I didn't expect a casual act back then to be remembered by you until now."

Chen De's performance made a hint of surprise flash in the other party's eyes.

Someone who could lie to such an extent was quite rare, especially after being exposed face-to-face just now, yet still being able to converse with him without batting an eyelid.

"Benefactor, please accept my bow!"

At this, Chen De once again made a gesture, bowing deeply to the other party.

"How should I address Benefactor?"

A look of reminiscence appeared in the other party's eyes, "You can just call me Myriad Gods."

Myriad Gods!

From the memories of the few Rulers and Heavenly Imperial Realm peak cultivators Chen De had assimilated, there was no impression of him whatsoever.

However, there were so many Rulers and Venerables living in seclusion that it was normal not to know all of them.

He just instinctively felt that an existence as powerful as him should be very famous.

For example, the Ancient Hall's main and vice hall masters, and some other Venerable peak cultivators, and so on.

"Benefactor Myriad Gods, is there anything I can do for you? I will not refuse, even if it costs me my life."

Chen De patted his chest, assuring Myriad Gods.

He said this seriously.

Myriad Gods had saved his life when he was in such a dangerous place, and to this day, he was incredibly moved.

Chen De had always repaid kindness in this life and had never done anything ungrateful.

"It's nothing, what I'm going to do, you can't help me with right now." Myriad Gods smiled as he refused Chen De.

"Oh, is that so." Chen De was a little dejected, "That's truly a pity."

Myriad Gods looked at Chen De, unable to tell what he was thinking, and Chen De was likewise unable to discern Myriad Gods's thoughts.

"This meeting between you and I was merely a coincidence as I happened to pass by."

"However, meeting is fate, why don't we chat?"

Myriad Gods suddenly suggested.

"Alright, Benefactor's invitation is something I, Xiao Yi, couldn't ask for more." Chen De immediately agreed.

The two walked side by side for a while, neither speaking first.

Chen De felt that as the junior, it was better to be a bit more humble.

He couldn't let the other person lose face, so he proactively opened the topic, "Benefactor, what is the situation in the Earth Immortal Realm?"

"The Earth Immortal Realm, that's a long story..."

Myriad Gods pondered thoughtfully upon hearing this, "Actually, the Earth Immortal Realm is a world jointly created by a group of cultivators from the Four Profound Heavens who had reached their limits during the Ultra-Archaic period."

"It gathered top experts from all periods, past and present, all for one goal — to become an Immortal!"

To become an Immortal!

Below the Heavenly Imperial Realm was the Immortal Law Realm, below the Demon Emperor Realm was the Demon Venerable Realm, below the Eternal Realm was the Supreme Realm, below the Jie Tian Realm was... This was the common pursuit of every cultivator: Immortality!

However, after a certain day a very, very long time ago, no more Immortals were born.

Countless powerful individuals followed one after another, but all their efforts were like a stone sinking into the sea.

The Immortal realm seemed to have been cut off since a certain era.

"I can't elaborate on its specific formation process right now; you'll naturally know later."

Chen De nodded and continued to ask, "What about the Ruler Realm?"

Myriad Gods began to explain to Chen De in detail,

"The Ruler Realm is also an attempt made by the Earth Immortal Realm, or rather, the Ancient Hall."

"Venerables and the Ruler Realm are different. Venerables appeared in the Four Profound Heavens a very, very long time ago, much earlier than Rulers.

It just wasn't called that name back then; it was officially named after the Ruler Realm appeared."

"This matter is not much of a secret within the Ancient Hall; in fact, many people participated in it."

"To achieve immortality, their most elite group of powerful individuals, leading their subordinates, made one attempt after another."

"For example, the earliest idea was proposed by the Ancient Hall Master at a certain moment."

"To integrate one's own consciousness into the consciousness of heaven and earth. I am the world, the world is I, and I am immortal with the world."

"Unfortunately, it failed. All attempts were carried out in various small worlds attached to the Four Profound Heavens."

"Even now, related explorations are still being conducted."

"Initially, they tried to integrate the consciousnesses of countless powerful individuals into the will of heaven."

"But with too many consciousnesses integrated, the result was an extremely mixed new consciousness. Such power, achieved by losing oneself, was meaningless."

"Not only that, the natural laws of heaven and earth would instinctively reject anything with personal will.

Under the operation of rules, these things would eventually be eliminated."

"However, the first failure was not without gains; these experiences were extremely valuable and can be said to have pointed the way for the next attempt."

"Soon, they began their second attempt."

"This time, two aspects of attempts were carried out simultaneously."

"One was that they still refused to give up on replacing the will of heaven with individual consciousness.

But to prevent mixing, they adopted the method of using one person's consciousness to replace it.

Undoubtedly, if the consciousness of many failed, individual consciousness would be even more so."

"But another attempt succeeded. After discovering that the rules of heaven and earth would instinctively reject things with personal will,

they tried using inanimate objects as substitutes, and unexpectedly, it worked."

"After finding the correct method, and after countless years of research,

they finally created the prototype of the World Authority Artifact."

"From then on, the first Ruler Realm cultivator was born: the Ancient Hall Master."

Saying this, Myriad Gods looked at Chen De, "You are not unfamiliar with the world he belongs to."

"Could it be..."

Chen De already had a guess.

"The Earth Immortal Realm!" Myriad Gods spoke these three words.

"The creation of the Ruler Realm allowed many powerful individuals who should have faded away in the long river of time to endure.

The status of a World Master granted them extended lifespans.

This is also why top experts from countless eras have been able to survive until now."

"Of course, some also sealed themselves using their secret techniques, allowing them to be preserved until now."

"I presume you've noticed something as well?" Myriad Gods asked Chen De a question.

"What?"

Chen De asked back in confusion.